RABAT, Morocco, Aug 30 – Robert Kiprop engineered Kenya’s gold medal harvest at the track and field competition that concluded Friday, leading compatriots Edward Zakayo and Richard Kimunyan in the men’s 5000m podium sweep on the penultimate day of the Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco.
Kenya also claimed double in the 1500m as World U18 champion Elijah Manangoi won the men’s gold while Qualyne Jebiwott led compatriot Mary Kinuthia to a 1-2 finish.
George Manangoi, the younger sibling of World Champion Elijah Manangoi, stormed to victory after clocking 3:38.37 ahead of Souleiman hassan of Djibouti who returned 3:38.34 while another Kenyan in the race Charles Cheboi completed the podium in 3:38.51.
In the corresponding women’s 1500m, Jebiwott returned 4:19.33 to dominate the race, one minute ahead of Mary Kuria who won silver while Ethiopian Lemlem Techane took bronze in 4:20.60.
The same performance was replicated in the field event as Africa champion Julius Yego threw 87.3m to also lead Alexander Kiprotich who managed to cover 77.50m to a Kenyan 1-2 finish.
Kenya also won a rare gold in the women’s 400h Hurdles with Vernice Kerubo claiming victory in 56.95.
This was unexpected gold as Kerubo little known out sprinted her self to beat home girl Lamina Lhabz in a photo finish.
Lhabz could not believe it as she thought she was the winner and had started celebrating, but after only seeing the timers place her second in 56.97, she burst into tears.
On the other hand, Kerubo who shocked herself, was into jubilation, but she pulled a hamstring as she approached the press mixed zone.
Abasiamo Akpan of Nigeria scooped bronze in 56.66.
Kenya finished the day with six gold medals from athletics to take the tally to 10.